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The former energy minister, who allegedly masterminded a plan to funnel illegal donations, announced on October 15 he was retiring from politics at the 2015 election.

The MP relinquished his portfolios in December and moved to the crossbench in February after his office was raided and he came to the attention of an Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) inquiry.

Mr Hartcher's staff allegedly funnelled banned donations from an Obeid family-linked company, Australian Water Holdings, through an alleged Liberal slush fund EightByFive ahead of the 2011 state poll.

CHRIS SPENCE (Liberal MP for The Entrance)

The MP stepped aside from the parliamentary Liberal Party in February and announced in June that he would not recontest his Central Coast seat at the 2015 election.

The Central Coast MP also says he wants to give the Liberal Party enough time to preselect a candidate for the seat.

DON PAGE (Nationals MP for Ballina)

Just an hour before his expected demotion as local government minister from the Baird front bench, the 63-year-old MP announced in April he would not recontest his seat at next year's election.

The MP has held his north coast seat for 26 years and is the grandson of former prime minister Sir Earle Page.

GREG SMITH (Liberal MP for Epping)

In a decision that was widely expected after he was booted from cabinet in April by new Premier Mike Baird, the former attorney-general announced in July that he was retiring from politics at the 2015 election.

The 66-year-old has held the northwest Sydney seat of Epping since 2007.

As the state's top law maker Mr Smith oversaw controversial one-punch laws and bail reforms.

GEORGE SOURIS (Nationals MP for Upper Hunter)

The 65-year-old MP, who was also tipped to quit politics after he was demoted in Mr Baird's cabinet reshuffle, announced in September that he was bowing out of politics at the next election.

Mr Souris, who served in the Greiner, Fahey and O'Farrell cabinets, will end his 27-year parliamentary career in March.

The former top-ranking military officer quit parliament in August after admitting to lying to the ICAC about returning $10,000 to banned donor Jeff McCloy.

The move forces a damaging by-election for the Baird government in Newcastle.

Mr Owen told the corruption commission that he returned an envelope, one-centimetre thick with $100 notes, with a message saying "no thanks" to Mr McCloy.

But he changed his story the next day and decided to fall on his sword shortly afterwards.

ANDREW CORNWELL (ex-Liberal MP for Charlestown)

The once-rising Liberal star spectacularly announced his resignation from politics in August after revelations he received $20,000 from developers.

Dr Cornwell, a trained vet, resigned from his Lake Macquarie seat a day after giving evidence at the ICAC.

He admitted to receiving $10,000 in a brown paper bag from banned donor Jeff McCloy in a Bentley, in the lead-up to the 2011 election.

He also confessed to using $10,000 from the sham sale of a Rex Newell painting to a property developer to pay his payroll tax bill.

Dr Cornwell entered parliament in 2011 and was promoted by Mike Baird to government whip in his May reshuffle.

FUTURES UNCERTAIN:

BARRY O'FARRELL (Liberal MP for Ku-ring-gai)

Even though he isn't facing any corruption allegations, Mr O'Farrell has been the ICAC's most high-profile scalp yet.

He vacated the premiership in April after giving misleading evidence to the corruption watchdog about a $3000 bottle of wine he allegedly received from Liberal donor Nick Di Girolamo.

Since giving up the top job, Mr O'Farrell has given hints that he might be interested in a move to federal politics.

MIKE GALLACHER (upper house Liberal MP)

The ICAC has been circling Mr Gallacher since May, when counsel assisting Geoffrey Watson SC declared the former police minister had hatched a corrupt scheme to funnel illicit political donations from Nathan Tinkler's Buildev to two Central Coast MPs and a staffer of ex-energy minister Chris Hartcher.

The allegation forced Mr Gallacher to quit cabinet and join the cross bench.

Before the ICAC scandal, Mr Gallacher was reportedly interested in moving to the lower house and was thought of as a possible future leader.

Those hopes, along with his chances of remaining in the upper house, hinge on the ICAC's findings, due in January.

BART BASSETT (Liberal MP for Londonderry)

The ICAC has heard allegations Mr Bassett solicited a campaign donation from Nathan Tinkler's Buildev in exchange for favours on a housing project.

Mr Bassett, who moved to the cross benches in August after the allegations were aired at the commission, denies any wrongdoing.

But the scandal is expected to land a blow to his 2015 re-election aspirations.

Mr Bassett was the first Liberal to sit in Londonderry, capturing the seat on a margin of 12.3 per cent, but he has recently signalled his desire to run in safer Liberal seats after a redistribution shrunk his margin to just five per cent.

He has reportedly tried to wrest preselection for the western Sydney seat of Riverstone away from sitting Liberal MP Kevin Conolly - but that is increasingly looking unlikely given the ICAC allegations he faces.

CRAIG BAUMANN (Liberal MP for Port Stephens)

The ICAC in September decided to officially widen its investigation to look into whether Mr Baumann's disclosures were made with the purpose of "concealing benefits" with property developers.

In a rather unconvincing performance, Mr Baumann told the ICAC that he failed to report $79,000 from two developer donors in his 2007 election funding disclosures but denied doing them any favours.

Mr Baumann also admitted to directing a "sham invoice" be issued from his company Valley Homes to one of the donors.